Railroad torpedo



A, CIMOROSI RAILROAD TORPEDO Jul 2, 1935.

Original Filed Oct. 25, 1932 lN VENTOR a AZ'ZBE r ;/;A7%ZJ.

ATTORNEY Patented July 2,

Alberto Cirnorosi, Elkton, Md.

Applicationflctober 25, 1932, Serial No. 639,430

. Renewed January 17, 1935 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful railroad torpedo adapted for application to railroad tracks to serve as a signal during inclement Weather when the conventional electric light signals ordinarily used and commonly known as semaphores are rendered invisible.

Railroad torpedoes of this character have heretofore been made, such torpedoes consisting of a cartridge or casing containing an explosive mixture intermingled with gravel, whereby the wheels of a train crushing the casing brought impact and friction to bear upon the gravel and the explosive, thereby exploding the torpedo. Torpedoes of this character have not been quite satisfactory, in that when the explosion tool; place the gravel contained in the torpedo was hurtled by the force of the explosion and flew in all directions, thus endangering the cabman and passengers, as well as anyone within range of the explosion. Furthermore, the action of gravel as the setting off element was not always positive.

t is the object of my invention to overcome these disadvantages and to produce a novel torpedo wherein the setting off element is integrally carried by the casing containing the explosive and whereby such setting off element is incapable of being forcefully dispersed by the explosion, thereby adding to the positiveness of action the factor of absolute safety.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a casing which is preferably sectional to facilitate construction and assembly, said casing comprising a well or pocket member and a cover therefor, and means for securing the assembled torpedo to a railroad track.

My invention further consists in providing at opposite points of the assembled casing frictional elements of a non-missile character, which frictional elements serve to set off the explosive when the casing is crushed to bring said frictional elements into sudden impact.

My invention further consists of various other novel features of construction and advantage, all as hereinafter set forth in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a completely assembled railroad torpedo embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a composite perspective view showing parts of my novel torpedo prior to their assembly.

Figure l represents a plan view of a modified formof my invention.

ure 4. 7 Referring to the drawing inwhich like reference charactersindicate like'parts, my'novel torpedo consists of a blank I which is pressed, formed or molded, to produce the well or pocket 2 which is adapted to contain the explosive 3. The well 2 is closed by the disc or stopper 4, said well and said stopper being preferably of a round contour, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, it being understood that any other shape might be used. On the bottom of the inverted well or cup 2 and on the inner surface of the disc 4 are provided the friction surfaces 5 which may consist of pieces of sand or glass paper secured to the respective members or the respective surfaces may be coated with an adhesive which is subsequently sprayed with sand, ground glass or any other friction forming substance. The lid or stopper 4 is firmly secured in position by an adhesive or any other approved expedient and a flexible form-retaining strap 6 is passed through openings 1 in the bodyof the blank i and over the cup or well 2 (see Figure l), the ends of said strap being subsequently bent around the railroad tracks or other object to which the torpedo is to be secured, lead strips being very practical for this purpose. With the torpedo attached to the rails, the passage of a train over said rails crushes the cup 2 with a sudden impact, thereby subjecting the explosive 3 contained in the cup 2 to the frictional action of the frictional elements 5 on the juxtaposed faces of the cup 2 and lid 4 which results in setting off the explosive mixture and producing the desired detonation. In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modified form of my invention to show that my novel torpedo can be made of any desired shape without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention which resides in the provision of 2. casing having frictional elements at opposite points in the inner surface thereof and an-explosive confined between said frictional elements, so that when said frictional elements are crushed together by the weight of a train or other impact the explosive is set off without any danger of injury to persons close to the explosion which might otherwise result from the presence of gravel'mixed with the explosive and serving to set off the explosive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Figure 5 represents aside elevationof 1. A railroad torpedo comprising a casing adapted to contain an explosive mixture, a cover secured to said casing, frictional elements secured to the inner surface of said cover and the juxtaposed wall of said casing whereby when said frictional elements are crushed together the explosive mixture is detonated, and a flexible formretaining strap for securing the assembled torpedo to any desired support.

2. A railroad torpedo comprising a casing adapted to contain an explosive mixture, a cover secured to said casing, frictional elements on the inner surface of said cover and the juxtaposed wall of said casing whereby when said frictional elements are crushed together the explosive mixture is detonated, and a flexible form-retaining strap for securing the assembled torpedo to any desired support.

3. In a railroad torpedo, a base, a well associated with said base and adapted to receive an explosive mixture, a cover for said well, there being oppositely disposed apertures in said base in proximity to said well, a strip adapted to pass through said apertures for securing said torpedo to a rail, and frictional means for exploding said mixture when said well is crushed by a wheel of a train passing over said rail.

4. In a railroad torpedo, a base, a well associated therewith and adapted to receive an explosive mixture, a cover for said well, there being oppositely disposed apertures in said base adjacent to said well, and a strip passing through said apertures and over said well for securing said torpedo to a rail.

5. In a railroad torpedo, a base, a well associated therewith and adapted to receive an explosive mixture, a cover for said well, there being oppositely disposed apertures in said base adjacent to said well, a strip passing through said apertures and over said well for securing said torpedo to a rail, and means for exploding said mixture when said torpedo is crushed by a wheel of a train passing over said rail.

6. In a railroad torpedo, a well adapted to receive an explosive mixture, a cover for said well, means associated with said well and cover for securing the torpedo to a railroad, and a nondispersable detonating element associated with a Wall of said torpedo for setting off said explosive.

ALBERTO CIMOROSI. 

